Partnerships

The Office of Security and Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH) works closely with industry and government, both domestically and internationally. We partner with the following agencies to enhance national security and aviation safety:

The ICAO promotes air commerce and safety through established international standards, recommended practices, and procedures. Its Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods may be used to transport hazardous materials by aircraft in the United States (with some limitations, see 49 CFR 171.11). The FAA takes part in ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel meetings and updating the Technical Instructions.

The NTSB is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress to investigate every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in other types of transportation. These include railroad, highway, marine, and pipeline. It issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

The Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, within PHMSA, issues, updates, and interprets the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR, Parts 100-185). The FAA enforces these regulations in the air mode. Updates, interpretations, training materials, and other resources for the Hazardous Materials Regulations are available from this PHMSA office.

As part of the Department of Homeland Security, the TSA is responsible for protecting the nation’s transportation systems. Screening airline passengers, baggage, and cargo is the TSA’s most visible role. There is some overlap between the “prohibited items” the TSA bans from the cabin of the aircraft and the “hazardous materials” that FAA prohibits from baggage.